Pivotally supported x-ray intensifier device having a parked
position on top op the supporting tower



June 13, 1967 J. R. CRAIG ETAL PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED X-RAY INTENSIFIER DEVICE HAVING A PARKED Filed June 18, 1964 POSITION ON TOP OF THE SUPPORTING TOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvswrorzs 4 James R. Camc,

GEORGE W. 0110, JR.

" CW9 WA TTY,

June 13, 1967 cRAlG ETAL 3,325,643

PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED X-RAY INTENSIFIER DEVICE HAVING A PARKED POSITION ON TOP OF THE SUPPORTING TOWER Filed June 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0o INVENTOR Q JAMES R. CRAIG L32 .a' KA -ry June 13, 1967 J. R. CRAIG ETAL 3,325,643

PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED X-RAY INTENSIFIER DEVICE HAVING A PARKBD 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 POSITION ON TOP OF THE SUPPORTING TOWER Filed June 18, 1964 INVENTORS James R. Cams GEORGE W. OT-rmJR.

United States Patent 3,325,643 PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED X-RAY INTENSIFIER DE- VICE HAVING A PARKED POSITION ON TOP OF THE SUPPORTING TOWER James R. Craig, Glenview, and George W. Otto, Jr., Elmhurst, Iii, msignors, by mesne assignments, to Profexray, Incorporated, Maywood, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 18, 1964, Ser. No. 376,178 4 Claims. (Cl. 250-57) This invention relates to improvements in diagnostic X-ray apparatus.

In order to reduce the dosage of radiation to which a patient is subjected during fluoroscopy, image intensifiers have found an increasing and widespread use in recent years. Generally, however, these intensifiers are sold as an accessory which is removably mounted on the spot film device housing so that the intensifier may be optionally used by the radiologist. For this purpose the intensifier is supported and counterbalanced by a cable and counterweight system which is separate from the cable and counterweight systems for other parts of the X-ray apparatus, such as the table, spot film device, spot film device tower, fluoroscopic tube carriage, and the like. This enables the intensifier to be removed from the spot film device housing and parked at some convenient place remote from the table at such times as the intensifier is not being used. The cable and counterweight system for the intensifier is usually an overhead mounting with the intensifier being suspended from the cable, and such system is a costly addition to the installation of an X-ray apparatus.

When an intensifier is used, the area viewed by the radiologist at any one time is, of course, considerably less than would be the case if the fluoroscopic screen in the spot film device housing were viewed directly. Furthermore, it was thought that for many diagnostic procedures, it was preferable to observe the entire fluoroscopic screen directly and not use the intensifier. For these reasons it has heretofore been thought necessary to have the intensifier capable of being removed from the spot film device and parked to one side. However, we have found that the area of the screen actually viewed "by the radiologist at any one moment is, for an overwhelming number of procedures, no greater than the area observed through the intensifier with the result that in many X-ray table installations the intensifier may be kept in operative position permanently.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to prove an X-ray apparatus in which the intensifier is adapted to remain permanently mounted in operative position on the spot film device and wherein a separate counterweighting and cable system for the intensifier is eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an X-ray apparatus of the type stated which is relatively compact and less expensive as compared to eXisting installations utilizing an intensifier.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an X-ray apparatus of the type stated in which the intensifier and spot film device may be conveniently and easily parked in a novel manner.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of an X-ray apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

3,325,643 Patented June 13, 1967 FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus, partially broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with certain parts of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a counterweight system that forms part of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spot film device with the image intensifier mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the magnetic brake that forms part of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, 1 designates an X-ray apparatus comprising a table 2 having a top 3 and supported in a conventional manner on a base generally designated at 4. The table 2 has a chain sector 6 in the form of an arc of a circle having a center at 7. A drive chain 8 is trained over the sector 6, and the ends of the drive chain 8 are secured at anchorage points 9, 11 at the ends of the sector 6. Within the base 4 is a drive gear 12 and idler gears 13, 14 around which the drive chain is trained. The drive gear 12 is driven through a conventional motor and transmission (not shown). Rotation of the drive gear 12 will turn the table 2 about an axis transversely of the table and passing through the center 7 to swing the table 2 from a horizontal position, shown in full lines in FIG. 2, to various tilted positions in which the table is at an angle to the horizontal with one transverse end of the table lower than the other transverse end thereof. Two such tilted positions are shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. In one position the table has been tilted ninety degrees clockwise while in the other position the table has been tilted approximately fifteen degrees counterclockwise.

Mounted within the table 2 for longitudinal movement therealong is a carrier 16 that projects outwardly through a longitudinal slot 17 in the table 2. The carrier 16 may have rollers 18, 19 that move along longitudinal trackways or guides 21, 22 on the table 2. The carrier 16 also supports a fluoroscopic tube carriage 23 having rollers 24, 26 that ride in transversely extending trackways 27 on the carrier 16. A fluoroscopic X-ray tube 28 is mounted on the carriage 23 as well as a conventional shutter assembly 29 for the tube 28. The carriage 23 is in rigid connection with a tower 31 upon which a spot film device 32 and an image intensifier 33 are mounted in operative position to receive X-rays from the tube 28. Thus, the tower 31, spot film device 32, and image intensifier 33 will move transversely of the table 2 jointly with the carriage 23 and X-ray tube 28, and through the carrier 16, will also move longitudinally of the table 2 so that the relative positions of the spot film device 32 and intensifier 33 will at all times during fiuoroscopy be in proper position to receive X-rays from the tube 28. Further details of the carrier 16 and carriage 23 are not shown herein since such constructions are known in the art, as exemplified in our prior Patent 3,043,953, to which reference may be had.

One end of the housing 34 of the spot film device 32 is pivotally secured in a conventional manner at 36 to a tower carriage 37, the latter being movable upwardly and downwardly along the tower 31 to move the spot film device 32 and intensifier 33 toward and away from the top 3 of the table 2. The pivotal connection of the housing to the carriage 37 is to enable the spot film device 32 and intensifier 33 to be parked when not in use, that is, to enable them to be swung to the broken line positions shown in FIG. 1, as will presently be more fully described. The spot film device 32, intensifier 33 and other parts movable upwardly and downwardly on the tower 31 are suitably counterweighted by a counterweight 38 that slides upwardly and downwardly within the tower. The cables 39, 41 join the counterweight 38 to the carriage 37 and the cables 39, 41 may be trained around pulleys 42 (FIG. 1) in a customary manner, the pulleys being mounted on the tower 31 and on a channel 43 rigidly secured to the back side of the housing 34 by a bracket 45. I

A counterweight system is also provided for counterweighting the tower 31 and parts of the apparatus carried thereby (i.e. spot film device 32, intensifier 33, etc.) when the table is tilted. This is shown in FIG. 1 and diagrammatically in 5. Channels or trackways 44, 46, 47 are mounted in the table 2 and extend lengthwise thereof and on these trackw-ays are counterweights 48, 49, 51 each having rollers 52, 53 that engage the trackways. The counterweights 48, 49, 51 are connected to the carrier 16 by cables 55, '56, 57 which are secured in any standard manner to the carrier 16, as by clamps which are diagrammatically illustrated at 8, '59, 61. Conventionally the cables 55, 56, 5-7 are trained around pulleys 62, 63, 64 that are rotatable on the table.

The table 2 also has a conventional bucky carriage 66 underlying the top 3. This carriage 66 is suitably counterweighted in the usual manner by a counterweight 67.

The image intensifier 33 includes a shield 68 for the intensifier tube therein, a viewer 69, and a mounting or base plate 71. The mounting plate 71 is secured to the housing 34 over an opening therein so that the X-rays from the tube 28 will be received by the intensifier 33 allowing the latter to intensify the image thereon. This is standard in the art. However, in the present invention the intensifier 33 is not ceiling suspended as by overhead cables and counterweights. The housing 34 has mounted thereon four bars 72, 73, 74, 75 disposed in a rectangular configuration to correspond to the shape of the mounting plate 71. Each bar 72, 73, 74, 75 has an inwardly opening groove 76, one of which is shown in FIG. 7, the grooves in the bars 72, 73, 74, 75 being adapted to receive the edges of the mounting plate 71. Thus, the mounting plate 71 may be slipped into the grooves on the bars 73, 74, 75 whereupon the rear bar 72 may be fitted over the remaining edge of the mounting plate 71 and thereafter secured to the housing by screws 77.

Secured to the upper end of the tower 31 is a bracket 78 for journalling a pivot bolt or pin 79. One end of the pivot member 79 has a ball 81 which fits into a socket 82 to constitute a ball joint. Threaded into the lower end of the socket 82 of the ball joint and depending therefrom is a rod 83 that projects loosely through a longitudinal slot 84 that is formed in a tubular block 8 6. The block 86 is rock-ably secured to the channel 43 in any suitable manner as by screws 87, 87. The lower end of the rod 83 is threaded for receiving a stop 88 which is of a size to prevent upward retraction of the rod 83 through the slot 84.

With the spot film device 32 and image intensifier 33 in their lowermost positions relative to the table top 3, as shown in FIG. 1, assume it is desired to park the two, that is, shift them to the broken line positions shown in FIG. 1. When this is done, rotation of the spot film device 32 and intensifier 33 about the pivot axis 36 will cause the block 86 to push against the stop 88. Continued movement of the spot film device 32 and image intensifier 33 about the pivot axis 36 will cause the tower carriage 37 to be pulled upwardly along the tower 31 by the continued force of the block 86 against the stop 88. The length of the rod 83 is such that the carriage 37 will be raised a sufiicient amount to enable the intensifier 33 to rest upon the top of the tower 31 in the fully parked position. Thus, if the carriage 37 is at its lowermost position or at some position thereabove but still too low to permit the intensifier to seat on the top of the tower 31 upon completion of the movement to parked position, the aforesaid mechanism insures sufiicient elevation of the carriage 37 during the parking operation. If desired, a rubber bumper may be provided on the upper end of the tower 31 for receiving the intensifier 33.

To prevent too rapid a movement of the carriage 37 during parking and possible damage of the equipment, a suitable brake 89 may be provided, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. This brake 89 may comprise a coil 91 supplied with current from a power source -P through a switch 92. A plunger 93, biased by spring 94, is magnetized by the coil 91 and is attracted to the tower 31 so that the-re is a frictional drag created between the carriage 37 and the tower 31. The switch 92 is normally open and may be closed in any suitable manner during parking and unparking.

Too rapid a swinging movement of the spot film device 32 and intensifier 33 during parking and unparking may be prevented by pneumatic or hydraulic check 95. This check 95 preferably comprises a cylinder 96 secured at one end by a pivot pin 97 to an L-shaped handle on the spot film device housing 34. The piston rod 98 of the check is pivotally connected at one end to link means 99, 99 which are also pivotally connected by a screw 100 to a plate 101 on the carriage 37.

V In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes we have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What is considered new and sought to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, a tower projecting above the table, support means overlying the table and slidably mounted on the tower for movement toward and away from the top of the table, X-ray sensitive means for intensifying an image and being mounted on said support means for movement therewith, said support means being articulated for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the table top to permit swinging the X-ray sensitive means from an operative position overlying the table to a parked position in which the X-ray sensitive means is supported by the top part of the tower, and means for automatically shifting the support means .to a predetermined position of elevation on the tower as the X-ray sensitive means is swung from its operative position to its parked position.

2. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, a tower projecting above the table, support means overlying the table and slidably mounted on the tower for movement toward and away from the top of the table, X-ray sensitive means mounted on said supportmeans for movement therewith and including an image intensifying device, said support means being articulated for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the table top to permit swinging the X-ray sensitive means from an operative position overlying the table to a parked position in which the X-ray sensitive means is supported by the top part of the tower, means for automatically shifting the support means to a predetermined position of elevation on the tower as the X-ray sensitive means is swung from its operative position to its parked position, and brake means for retarding said automatic shifting of the support means.

3. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, a tower projecting above the table, support means overlying the table and slidably mounted on the tower for movement toward and away from the top of the table, X-ray sensitive means for intensifying an image and being mounted on said support means for movement therewith, said support means being articulated for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the table top to permit swinging the X-ray sensitive means from an operative position overlying the table to a parked position in which the X-ray sensitive means is supported by the top part of the tower,

means for automatically shifting the support means to a predetermined position of elevation on the tower as the X-ray sensitive means is swung from its operative position to its parked position, means for retarding the swinging movement of the X-ray sensitive means, and selectively operable brake means for retarding said automatic shifting of the support means.

4. In an X-ray apparatus, a table, a tower projecting above the table, support means overlying the table and slidably mounted on the tower for movement toward and away from the top of the table, an image intensifier mounted on said support means, said support means being articulated for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel to the table to permit swinging of the intensifier from an operative position overlying the table to a parked position in which the intensifier is supported by the top References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,906,880 9/ 1959 Stava et al 25058 3,018,375 1/1962 Graves et al 25077 3,215,835 11/1965 Mueller 25058 RALPH G. NI-LSON, Primary Examiner.

W. F. LINDQUIST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN X-RAY APARATUS, A TABLE, A TOWER PROJECTING ABOVE THE TABLE, SUPPORT MEANS OVERLYING THE TABLE AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE TOWER FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE TABLE, X-RAY SENSITIVE MEANS FOR INTENSIFYING AN IMAGE AND BEING MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING ARTICULATED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE TABLE TOP TO PERMIT SWINGING THE X-RAY SENSITIVE MEANS FROM AN OPERATIVE POSITION OVERLYING THE TABLE TO A PARKED POSITION IN WHICH THE X-RAY SENSITIVE MEANS IS SUPPORTED BY THE TOP PART OF THE TOWER, AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING THE SUPPORT MEANS TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION OF ELEVATION ON THE TOWER AS THE X-RAY SENSITIVE MEANS IS SWUNG FROM ITS OPERATIVE POSITION TO ITS PARKED POSITION. 